Christmas markets. In Aragon it is also called Tizón de Nadal or Toza. Getting Tió to poop is a metaphor which reflects a connection to nature: ask her to continue producing in order to keep the group fed and safe. General Council of the Pyrénées-Orientales, "Fer cagar el tió: una tradició d'origen precristià? A similar tradition exists in other places, such as the Cachafuòc or Soc de Nadal in Occitania. caga torró, Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. There are many different lyrics depending on the territory, here is a fragment of one of them: No caguis arengades, que són molt salades, Si no cagues ara, cop de bastó, cop de bastó!”. This makes the perfect excuse for the relatives to do the trick and put the presents under the blanket while the kids are praying or warming their sticks. Exactly how the Yule log turned into the Tio seems to be an amalgamation of Catalan social tropes, the competing popularity of Santa Claus in the 19th century, the need for presents on Christmas day in a culture which usually gets them 12 days later and their love of a good poop. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The kids will have to take care of him from early December until December 25, specifically they will be in charge of feeding the Christmas pooping log at night before going to bed. Look among the figures in a Christmas 'pessebre' nativity scene in Barcelona Catalonia and you will usually find a odd little character called el Caganer. It’s a tree trunk that kids have been feeding all month-long. 2. The Tió de Nadal” Christmas log is a log or tree stump standing on wooden stick legs. Yes, the wooden buddy is supposed to poop those hidden treasures that kids pick up from under a red blanket conveniently covering the figure. Tió, or The pooping log is a Catalan tradition, typical in Christmas. This is a pagan tradition believed to have evolved from fertility and prosperity. The Caganer is not the only defecating character in the Catalan Christmas tradition—another is the Tió de Nadal, which also makes extensive use of the image of fecal matter (it is a log, i.e. Say hello to the "poop" log. In case you want to enjoy this fun adventure with them, keep reading to know how the process goes from picking up this magic log to finally making him take a special poop ;-). Required fields are marked *. NEIL: The log is a symbol of renewed luck and life. This one to the left is "Caga Tió" or the "pooping log. How do we get him to poop all those presents? There are many different songs; the following are some examples. All rights reserved. The tió does not drop larger objects, as those are considered to be brought by the Three Wise Men. Hi – my name is Tio de Nadal, but you can call me by my more common nickname, Caga Tio. Wikipedia posted: On Christmas Day or, in some households, on Christmas Eve, one puts the tió partly into the fireplace and orders it to defecate. Still, children go to a different room, usually the kitchen, to warm their stick next to a fire. The fire part of this tradition is no longer as widespread as it once was, since many modern homes do not have a fireplace. caga tió!". Time to meet the famous Christmas pooper: el caganer…, Spanish Christmas meal (and other typical Christmas…, What to do in Barcelona on Christmas: 7 plans. What is the Caga Tió tradition and why is … Welcome! hazelnuts and mató cheese, Caganer - the Christmas crapper! On December 8th, which is the day of the Immaculate Conception, children will start to pamper the family’s Tió de Nadal. The tradition says that before beating the tió all the kids have to leave the room and go to another place of the house to pray, asking for the tió to deliver a lot of presents. Tió de Nadal – Christmas Log. It burnt from Christmas Day to Three Kings Day and afterwards it was saved at home as a protective amulet. Caga Tió doesn’t poop out poop, but rather gifts! Then somebody puts their hand under the blanket and takes a gift. Caga Tió is literally a ‘Pooping Log.’ ... Catalan peasant clothes (most characteristically the barretina – a red hat with black band), who can be found in Catalan nativity scenes pooping at the back of the stable. Welcome to my website. [3]. The Tió de Nadal is given a lovely, big beaming smiling face, along with a traditional Catalan barretina red hat. Another ancestral tradition of the Catalan people consists in bringing children in front of this magic log called Cagatio (pooping log) so it "excretes" Christmas gifts. In Catalonia, Spain, the Caga Tio (a large log) is believed to “shit” gifts on Christmas morning In the beginning, Caga Tio was just a log that, when burned in the fireplace, provided precious heat and light. You must “feed” him every day beginning on December 8th. Photo: iStock. Tio de Nadal / Caga Tió Let’s begin with my absolute favorite Catalan Christmas tradition involving the Caga Tió (the pooping log). (Explicit) Misfits and Mysteries is a podcast that explores everything from the supernatural to the very natural. The form of the Tió de Nadal found in many Aragonese and Catalan homes during the holiday season is a hollow log about thirty centimetres long. Subtitle: the Catalan Pooping Christmas Log. Caga Tió is an interactive tradition that provides fun for the whole family, for a week or two before Christmas the family “feeds” Caga Tió scraps of food from their dinners and keep him warm by covering him with blankets. Also celebrated in some areas of Aragon, Tio de Nadal — or Festival of the Pooping Log — is a beloved Spanish Christmas tradition. Nowadays, the praying tradition has been left behind. The current pooping log tradition hides some ancient rituals aimed at attracting abundance and fostering family bonds, specially during Wintertime. Over time, it became a symbol of other gifts given to the household at Christmas, such as candy, nougat, and wafers. On Christmas Day or, in some households, on Christmas Eve, one puts the tió partly into the fireplace and orders it to defecate. Nativity scenes in Catalunya – known as pesebres – tend to represent pastoral scenes reminiscent of the local countryside, with large country houses and depictions of rural life. But until they get them, they need to follow a special ritual of taking care of this magic log. si no cagues bé ": The Catalan custom is still celebrated in Spain, where you can buy your own el Caga Tió. Menu WELCOME; MY HOME; MY STORY; MY SONG; MY BLOG; IN THE NEWS; CONTACT ME; Scroll down to content. The use of this expression as a name is not believed to be part of the ancient tradition. All About Tio De Nadal, the Catalan Pooping Christmas Log. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. This is one of the more inexplicable traditions I’ve found, except for the fact that people in Catalan seem to have a pretty strong Christmas/Poop association. The log is hollowed out, with legs and a face added. It does leave candies, nuts and torrons, and small toys. What comes out of the Tió is a communal rather than individual gift, shared by everyone there. In the Catalan region of Spain, on December 8th, family will bring out the Tio de Nadal (Christmas Log) aka the Caga Tio (the Pooping Log). If the pooping log wasn’t scatological and funky enough, then hear about “El caganer” literally translated as the “shitter” or “crapper”. This is probably the toughest part: the kids hit him with sticks while singing popular Tió songs. The figurine of a peasant in the traditional red Catalan hat known as the 'barretina', with his trousers around his ankles and mooning while he relieves himself of yesterday's dinner. Catalonia, in Spain’s northeastern corner, is a region with a strong cultural pride and ancient traditions. What do you need to celebrate this tradition? Beginning with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8), one gives the tió a little bit to "eat" every night and usually covers him with a blanket so that he will not be cold. ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tió_de_Nadal&oldid=998526346, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 5 January 2021, at 19:51. 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